What's up whomever.  I hope that it's been a pleasant Tuesday, although most of us went back to work after a sweet three-day vacay.  Went by my local store and checked my order list.  Now, last week I knew that X-Men Forever Alpha was on and proverbially poppin'.  This week, I hadn't really paid much attention because I had a busy week to weekend and wasn't really thinking about this weeks solits.  Like I said, I was stoked(and still am) about X-Men Forever.  It just took me back, and I love it when comics do that.  New stories or old ones such as this.

But anyway, moving forward to this week: I'm going to be spending a little bit of money.

Does anyone watch Saturday Night Live?  I do.  I am a little unfamiliar with the seasons around 1998-02ish.  When the Will Farrell, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri cast all were leaving and whatnot.  Anyway, two of the best featured players in this era are BILL HADER and SETH MYERS.  Hader plays General Custer in the shitfest that is "Night at the Museum: Battle For the Smithsonian".  I saw the film last night, and the only times I can recall laughing out loud were Hader's scenes.  Maybe I'm a little bias because I'm a fan of anything he does on SNL, or in films("Hot Rod", "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", "Knocked Up").  But yeah, "Night 2" sucks, and would've sucked even more had Hader not saved scenes talking about his(Custer's) golden locks.  Did you know General Custer's hair was used as currency in some nations?  I didn't either.  As for Seth Myers, he's head writer for Saturday Night Live, no big deal.

So there have been previews up for "Spider-Man: The Short Halloween" one-shot all over the internet but I have tried to not read too much.  It could be another Marvel, $3.99 let down.  However, I have a feeling that there will be a few little things here and there that will make it worth the buy.  I'm looking at it like an extended SNL Digital Short featuring Spidey.  Both Hader and Myers know their stuff as well.  I remember Wizard had an interview with Hader a couple years back(not sure if it was Myers or cast member Will Forte), and he talked about slightly in depth about Sandman.  If you've read a Sandman comic, you've probably read a Spidey book before.  I read that the idea for "Short Halloween" came over drinks.  Plus, the title says it all: "The Short Halloween"?  I love it.  I hate Batman.  In a honest "love to hate" kind of way due to my allegiance to all things Kryptonian.  So I thought it's funny they chose to title the story that playing off the Loeb/Sale classic, "Batman: The Long Halloween".  Overall, I hope "Short Halloween" is a gas.

Speaking of the Dark Knight himself, is it time to close the curtains on the "Battle For The Cowl One-Shot Gamble"?  The reason I say this is because some of the one-shots for the saga were decent, and some left you with a, "Huh?"  And I know I'm in the minority in most Bat-debates, but I don't think I am in this one.  I thought "Gotham Gazette: BATMAN DEAD?" was pretty cool.  It got the ball rolling with Millicent Mayne sort of laying out the canvas of Gotham City as it were.  I liked it.  I hope that "Gotham Gazette: BATMAN ALIVE!" is kind of in the same tone as the first book.  So, now that I think about it, doesn't make this a "one-shot" so-to-speak.  So I guess it's a "two-shot".  Whatever.  I wanna see more Millicent Mayne action!  Oh, but I have to once again deal with the fact that Bats gets more of my moolah than Superman this week. 

But it's mainly for the fact that JIM LEE is showing us love for two weeks in a row.  Only this time it's the cover for "BATMAN OVER BARCELONA: DRAGON'S KNIGHT".  Mark Waid wrote the story so it's got to be pretty entertaining.  With a title like that, I'd have Batman slay a dragon.  Probably won't be happening in Waid's vision.  Damnit.

But screw Batman.  What are we going to do in a "World Without Superman"?  The story continues this week with SUPERMAN #688.  I like how they've incorporated Mon-El--now known as "Interpol agent" Jonathan Kent--within the city of Metropolis.  He's working with/for the Science Police and the Guardian clone and it's really dope.  He's the "Superman" of Metropolis currently and isn't as "clean cut" as Big Blue when handling baddies and whatnot.  I mean, Supes causes some damage during a blow out on the streets of Metropolis.  Mon-El he doesn't know his own strength, and that adds to the carnage.  I'm really enjoying this book right now.  It's probably my favorite of all the "World Without" titles currently.

Enjoy your "brightest days" while you still can.  Scar is going to "dead that" real soon.  GREEN LANTERN #41 continues this prelude to "BLACKEST NIGHT".  I have been wanting more Larfleeze in my life and this week I am treated to such.  I'm just saying, what the hell would you do if you could wield a ring as a Green Lantern, but could also be pissed off--or listening to Hatebreed--enough to rock a ring of the Red Lanterns?  Or, what if you were a sign of hope?  Would you want to be a Blue Lantern?  Ganthet and Sayd think Hal Jordan should lead the "blues".  How much is on his plate already?  I want to see the Guardians tack off some slack and rumble within the uncharted Vega System only to get wasted by Agent Orange.  Again, another "probably won't happen" but, whatever.

Then I have my X-books.  The first is X-MEN LEGACY #224.  This will be the first "Legacy" book that I have bought.  To be honest, I think that last "X-Men vol. 2" book I bought was Grant Morrison and Marc Silvestri's "New X-Men" story years ago.  Why am I buying it?  Because the cover looks like a romance novel and I collect those too.  I'm kidding.  "Legacy" is apparently about to tie into DARK REIGN with the whole "DARK AVENGERS/X-MEN UTOPIA" event coming up.  I'm a master of UNCANNY X-MEN, if it ties into that book, I'm on it.  So, we'll see what that issue has in store for my X-Men tastebuds.  I'll laugh if Gambit doesn't kiss Rouge at all. 

Next up are my two books tied into the "MESSIAH WAR".  First there's the handy dandy "MESSIAH WAR SOURCEBOOK".  Sourcebooks/Secret Files books are a necessity, especially if you may be a bit lost or on the other end, are absolutely loving every bit of the series.  I think that Deadpool is stealing the show.  And I'm sure he'll say something funny in X-FORCE #15.  The only thing that's kind of screwing with me here is all of the X-Men that are currently up to other things in the Marvel U.  Now the Deadpool in "Messiah War" is a future DP, but then you have obviously Wolverine.  This guy has always been everywhere and there's really no need to ask questions about him anymore.  But Elixir is a character that I am having a problem with because Matt Fraction's got him all up in "Uncanny", doing absolutely nothing productive.  This is part of the reason I was a bit uneasy about another X-Men, "possible future" story.  I knew little things would bug me.  Overall, it's cool to see Stryfe as f'd in the dome as ever.  He's playing "Hope"(the little girl) at the moment and I kind of hope(no pun, promise) that he kills her.  It probably won't happen but who knows, every time period must have it's Phoenix, right?  I mean, if you've got the DNA sample you can...oh, nevermind.  I don't wanna start getting bummed out.

Finally, what I think--as far as conversation between characters--is the best written book right now, NEW AVENGERS.  Will issue #53 finally hit us off with the identity of the new Sorceror Supreme?  Honestly, if all the NAs are back in an apartment talking about why "Karate Kid Part II" is better than the original for the entire issue, I'll be totally happy with life.  Bendis would write it to perfection.  DAs and NAs have been awesome books over the past four months.  While both have had better issues than others, for the most part it has been entertaining as hell.

I have a few other titles I'm grabbing as well.  FRINGE #5(of6) is coming out Thursday(because of the holiday), and I loved the first season of the show.  My roommate's kind of obsessed with the show and I have been getting the title for him mainly.  I definitely plan on reading them all once #6 drops.  Also, Babs hit us off with that video review of the current storyline in WONDER WOMAN.  I have the first two issues in regards to "Rise of The Olympian", now I'm gunna find the rest, and go ahead an pick up this and last month's books, #31 and #32.

So yeah, I'm going to be busy reading all of this at work.  Can't wait.

I'm off to get a catch of the z's.